Seriously, how does Michigan win Saturday?

Submitted by Dr. Explosion on

Seriously, assuming forfeit is not a legitimate option, if you are head coach, what is your game plan for Saturday?

gwkrlghl

October 23rd, 2014 at 12:03 PM ^

Like we probably need to be +3 or +4 which this team has shown no abiility to do - I think we've lost the turnover battle in almost every game. I think we're destined to by 20+ unless the defense MAKES PLAYS

CRISPed in the DIAG

October 23rd, 2014 at 12:03 PM ^

-Acquire points in unconventional ways because their players and coaches our better than our players coaches.

-Cook needs to shit the bed. Obviously.  INT's are necessary.  Poor choices/bad throws are optimal.  I would really like Frank Clark weigh in on this issue.

-Norfleet returns takes one to the house and otherwise gives us field position

-DG rediscovers mobility.  Notwithstanding ankle problems, this might take a gameplan that allows him this freedom.  If MSU has to defend DG, our chances of not sucking are better.

DesHow21

October 23rd, 2014 at 12:04 PM ^

but realistically Staee losing their QB to injury (for more than 3 quarters) is the ONLY scenario where UM is even close. 

So paging Alan Branch and Lamar Woodley!

sleeper

October 23rd, 2014 at 12:06 PM ^

to open up the running game. State will stack the box and dare you to throw the ball. Spread the field, if we can be successfull throwing the ball and force them out of the stacked defense, then maybe we can run the ball somewhat effectivley. Take a page from I believe it was the Patirots who threw on their first 20 or so plays against the Steelers a few years ago. No way we will just be able to line up an run it with any success. Win the T/O battle and hold them to under 20pts. 

BlastDouble

October 23rd, 2014 at 12:12 PM ^

But I do predict that, if MSU runs the swinging gate on an extra point, that our coaches will not have prepared the team for it and they will get an easy two.

I admire MSU's style, sad to say, but true...

MileHighWolverine

October 23rd, 2014 at 12:15 PM ^

1. Run every play, the entire game, out of a 4 WR shotgun formation.

2. Leave the RB next to Devin and for blitz pick up or to flare out as an outlet pass.

3. Every once in a while, have Devin run on a designed QB run play that gets 4 yards and then he slides or is out of bounds before a hit.

4. Hurry up, 2-minute offense the entire game - see if you can make them puke.

BlueKoj

October 23rd, 2014 at 12:19 PM ^

Both teams have to play inexplicably beyond expectation and past performance...in opposite directions. It simply comes down to the vagaries of CFB rivalries and any given Saturday. 

Everyone Murders

October 23rd, 2014 at 12:26 PM ^

The key to winning will be to continue to be a strong defensive team against the run.  The mantra on these games is that the team that has the most rushing yards is the team that wins, and Michigan is strong against the run.  And get a handle on how the refs are going to call defensive holding - if they're going to let DBacks get away with holding, then hold their receivers too.  Play through the whistle, and put Cook on his ass every chance you get.

On offense, the nice thing this year is that the strength of MSU's DLine seems to be up the middle, which is where we have more experience.  All the OLine players need to play smart and not panic, maintaining footwork and lanes even if they get beaten a few times.  And use Devin Gardner's legs by design instead of relying on his sensing pocket pressure (his reads seem to be improving, but it is unlikely he suddenly develops the sense of when to scramble in this game).  And hold on to the damn ball! 

Mattison still remains a very good coach, and a strong defensive showing against a meh MSU defense can be key. 

 

Danwillhor

October 23rd, 2014 at 12:29 PM ^

I don't care who our CBs are, you press. You then play Thomas at safety and move him in as essentially another LB (a bit off, effectively turning JMFR into a guy that can move other places) in a position many call bandit, rover, etc. Move him everywhere and blitz often. Have the other safety play deep middle. Tell him his ONLY JOB is to look for a CB beaten deep as he backs up slowly from the snap. Keep JMFR or Thomas away from the same blitz to help the intermediate passing game. Up front, amoeba around the middle. Line up FC & Taco wide. Not "wide 9" wide but let them get a running start and improvise using their athleticism/strength. The extra man up & LBs have to cover the gap on the run. In short on defense: Have to play reaction ball very quickly and without flaw. OFFENSE: Almost zero Gardner under center. Do not even attempt to run power inside until you establish Funchess on outside short & deep toss up passes. If it's 3rd and 4, isolate him wide and jump ball him within 7 yards. Use that as the run game until their defense spreads. Quick and 10+ TE seam throws out of the alignment. Point of this is to get a one on one SOMEWHERE. Darboh/Chesson need to get into the passing game if they hound Funch & Butt. A trick play every other possession. Flea flickers, reverse passes, etc. No, I'm not joking. You need to at least get it in their head that we'll do ANYTHING to move the ball. Work or not, you can then start trying to run the ball traditionally. Repeat. That said, our defensive play will be most important as I think their offense is better than their defense this year. Everything I just said requires execution to a degree of at least 75% (obviously) or it's moot. It can be done but I have no faith in our staff to do anything different or our players to beat their man in any system we run. Yet, that's my guide to winning this game.

Mittelstadt

October 23rd, 2014 at 12:37 PM ^

 

1.  

Hoke puts on a head set and gets involved with in game strategy.  

2.  

We get insane pressure on Connor Cook and the D scores two touchdowns.

3.  

Devin runs a zone read pass offense the entire game.  (just like the Sundance Kid he's got better aim when he's moving. Old movie reference - Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford)

Hail!

ChalmersE

October 23rd, 2014 at 12:37 PM ^

I don't think Michigan will win the game, but I also don't believe State is a super team. Their defense is nothing like last year's defense; their offensive line is not as good, and Connor Cook has the potential to be a turnover machine. Anyone who watched the first half of the Indiana-MSU game or the second half of Purdue-MSU knows teams are capable of competing. Fergodsakes Indiana played Sparty essentially even for 30 minutes, using its sixth string qb, a true freshman whose performance matched Russell Bellomy versus Nebraska.  I think the score is more likely to be State 24-UM 13, than State 35-0.

Danwillhor

October 23rd, 2014 at 12:51 PM ^

but no matter the record this is msu's super bowl title game. I highly doubt much more than 2 days were spent preparing for Indiana. I think that's why it showed at times. MD (msu as whole my entire life but especially under md) put their season on this game. I know msu fans that have said in the past that not making a bowl game but beating nd & Michigan would make them happy about their season. Heck, md openly rooted against us when a Michigan win would have helped msu! They have a better offense than defense this year, IMO. They aren't as good as last year but they are so much better than us right now. Much if their play last week stems from prepping for this game more than Indiana. MD knows that now is their chance to truly overtake UM. If they club us again and we keep Hoke or make another bum hire......they've got us. I can take another loss as their just better right now. I give us almost no chance. Yet, a home run hire changes everything. The 0.2% chance we land Harbaugh changes everything. MD doesn't just want to beat us. He wants to embarrass us all day like last year as it gives the upcoming generations a view they haven't seen before.....msu being the state powerhouse. UM having to steal recruits, etc. A role reversal without a home run hire that could keep it that way for a LONG time. Scary. That's why I doubt think they scouted Indiana too much ha.

MIMark

October 23rd, 2014 at 12:40 PM ^

1. Stop the run.  Do not let MSU control the clock and the line of scrimmage.

2. Attack Cook because our defensive backs will be in a lot of trouble if Cook has time to throw.  He is an efficient passer and our DBs allowed Rutgers to throw the ball all over the place.  That was Rutgers.  This is the defending B1G champ.

3. Run the ball early and often, even if we are not picking up yards, in order to wear out the defensive front 7.

4. Do not put the ball in the air often early.  Gardner is rattled right now, so the offense needs to be tailored in a way to let him build confidence as the game goes on.  No early mistakes because if he is forced into bad throws early, he may spiral.  We need Gardner to play confidently in this one like he did last year against Ohio State.

5. Win the turnover and field position game.  If we give MSU the ball in good field position consistently, the game will get away quickly.  We can stop MSU on long drives so pin them deep.

6. Do not be too conservative.  We can not out-physical MSU the way we could 15 years ago and win, so we have to take some risks.  But not early in the game because if Gardner loses confidence in himself early, this game looks like trouble.

Just my $.02.

YaterSalad

October 23rd, 2014 at 1:15 PM ^

Borges tried a new gimmick each week - flexbone thing, tackle over, zone / read option - and it worked for a quarter. Then the onslaught. What you need are wrinkles (counters, router modifications, etc) and will power. That still wins football games, believe it or not. He's just saying that we shouldn't reinvent the wheel and try to go 5 wide with a wildcat QB or something similarly crazy.

autodrip4-1968

October 23rd, 2014 at 1:07 PM ^

Four wide all day running deep routes. Hayes in the backfield catching the ball in the flat with some draw play's sprinkled in. Have Freddy and Atomic energy Northfleet consistently threatening end arounds. Let Devin run and slide. Defensively rush 5 to 6 guys every play with man coverage in secondary with Countess watching from sidelines. Once inside fifty no punting because this needs to be four down time. Go Blue!!!

 

taistreetsmyhero

October 23rd, 2014 at 1:11 PM ^

either a deep pass or a long pass interference (may be even better) to rattle their defense and make them worry that they aren't invincible. avoid drops--that used to kill us against good teams, and they are drive killers. win the penalty battle, and draw penalties against their defense.

UMForLife

October 23rd, 2014 at 1:12 PM ^

Blitz 70% of the time.
Play spread 70% of the time.
Change punt formation.
Play tight
fake punt
Go for it on 4th downs
Penalties be damned.
zero passing yards allowed, by interfering in every pass play and getting away with it 50% of the time.

Best of all, have Mike Hart picture as the sign for every play.

gobluesince1992

October 23rd, 2014 at 1:18 PM ^

if i were nuss… with the way msu plays in the secondary. i mean it is literally 1 on 1 on a fucking island. I go i formation, put 8 sparties in the box and isolate funchess out wide. 1 on 1. i tell his 6’5 230 lb ass to get into those corners off the snap, get them off their press, and i tell devin to just throw it his direction every fucking play. just give him a chance. force msu to put help over the top and open up the middle of the field. If he is matched up one on one, it is a mismatch. EXPLOIT IT. 

Ty Butterfield

October 23rd, 2014 at 1:20 PM ^

All of the staters for Staee would have to be out with chronic diarrhea. I mean like they can't even leave the locker room because the can't get off the can. Even then I could easily see Michigan losing to the second and third string guys.

Blue Palasky_68

October 23rd, 2014 at 1:22 PM ^

1. Keep score respectable
2. Get out of EL as fast as possible after the game.
3. Start packing bags and brush up resume, leaving a gap for the last 4 years
4. Start walking to next job.....

BlueGoM

October 23rd, 2014 at 1:36 PM ^

1.  no turnovers

2. get turnovers

3. see #1 and #2

 

turnovers have killed the offense this season.  it's got to stop if they have any hope of winning.